Governor's Recognition Scholarship Essay Contest Underway

By Special to the News

Published: Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 02:53 PM.

Application

To enter, complete a student/parent consent entry form and compose an essay of 500 words or less. Forms can be requested from any middle school English teacher, or go to myfoundationessay.com to fill out an electronic form and enter now.

Paper essays and entry forms can also be submitted to the Prepaid Foundation office at:

TALLAHASSEE — The words written by a 7th or 8th grade student in Holmes County could have a significant impact on his or her future. The Florida Prepaid College Foundation’s Governor’s Recognition Scholarship Program is now accepting essays and applications with the winner earning a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition, registration fees and local fees for 60 lower division semester credit hours as well as 60 upper division semester credit hours at one of Florida’s 28 Colleges. The entry deadline is Friday, October 12, 2012.

The Foundation is the direct-support organization of the Florida Prepaid College Board, which manages the Florida Prepaid College Plan and Florida Investment Plan. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than 32,300 scholarships, including Stanley Tate Project STARS scholarships supported by the State Legislature.

“This scholarship contest opens doors for a brighter future, allowing students to realize their dreams of higher education,” said Board Chairman Duane Ottenstroer. “By inspiring students today, we are developing the leaders of tomorrow.”

Eligibility

The scholarship is awarded to students who most successfully answer the essay prompt “Choose one former governor of Florida and describe his most significant impact on the Sunshine State and your life today.”

All Stanley Tate Project STARS eligible seventh and eighth grade students (those whose family qualifies for the free or reduced lunch program) in Holmes County may enter to win the Governor’s Recognition scholarship.

Application

To enter, complete a student/parent consent entry form and compose an essay of 500 words or less. Forms can be requested from any middle school English teacher, or go to myfoundationessay.com to fill out an electronic form and enter now.

Paper essays and entry forms can also be submitted to the Prepaid Foundation office at:

Florida Prepaid College Foundation

GRS Essay Contest

P.O. Box 1117

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Winners will be selected in November and awarded the scholarship at a local county School Board meeting.

History

The Governor’s Recognition Scholarship initiative began in 2006 with the goal of providing a college scholarship to at least one child in each county in the state. It is granted annually to middle school students who compose outstanding essays on the legacy of a past Florida governor. Each year, the Foundation selects a group of counties to participate in the essay contest. This year, Holmes, Miami-Dade, and Lake counties were selected. The Governor's Recognition Scholarship is a 4-Year Florida College Plan offered by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

For more information on the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, please visit www.floridaprepaidcollegefoundation.com, and for more information on Florida Prepaid College Plans, please visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-GRAD (4723).